Telford Aboriculture Course

First Year Courses

Second Year Courses

Other Courses

Telford Certificate in Arboriculture

A short course designed for those wishing to gain entry into the arboriculture industry.

The Foundation Certificate enables the student to gain insight to the industry and learn practical skills specific to arboriculture. As a graduate of the Telford Foundation Certificate in Arboriculture you will be able to understand safe working practices in arboriculture and undertake a variety of arboriculture tasks with confidence.

What is Arboriculture?

Arboriculture is the care and maintenance of trees from seeding to maturity. It involves working with trees mainly in the urban and sub-urban setting for private contractors and local councils. An arborist (pronounced r-ber-ist) also known as a ‘tree surgeon’ is someone who specialises in tree work including planting, pruning and the diagnosing and treating of diseases.

What does an Arborist do?

The type of work that arborists do involves pruning and confined felling, pruning trees around power lines (Utility clearance), the planting of small and large trees (transplanting), diagnosing and treating of pests and diseases, consultancy and report writing on tree health, hazard potential and management.

Telford offers the following arboriculture qualifications, all of which can be gained through through Hort Training New Zealand.

* The Foundation Certificate in Arboriculture (Level 2)
* Telford Certificate in Introductory Arboriculture (Level 2)
* Telford Certificate in Intermediate Arboriculture (Level 3)
* Telford Certificate in Advanced Arboriculture (Level 4)
* Telford Diploma in Arboriculture (Level 5)

The Foundation Certificate in Arboriculture

The Telford Foundation Certificate in Arboriculture is a short course designed for those whishing to gain entry into the arboriculture industry.

What will I study?

This course is completely made up of NZQA Unit Standards, including units on:

Health and Safety, Chainsaw Use, Knowledge of Arboriculture Industry, Communication, Plant Identification, Arboricultural Equipment and Traffic Management.

How long is the course?

The course is 6 weeks in duration, approximately 40 hours of learning per week and will be delivered with a combination of Supervised Learning, Work experience and Self Directed Learning.

What qualifications will I get?

The Telford Foundation Certificate in Arboriculture

Who can apply?

This course is open to anyone interested in arboriculture as a career. You need to be relatively fit and active, be able to work to the required standard and show those personal and skill attributes likely to lead to successful course completion.

When should I apply?

Applications will be accepted up until 1 week before the commencement of the course providing there are still vacancies.

Where to from here?

The increased knowledge and practical skills you gain from this course will provide many opportunities for employment within an industry where capable employees are highly sought after.

Telford graduates are renowned for their practical attributes and good work ethic. Currently there is a shortage of skilled arborists throughout New Zealand and overseas and most students easily find employment at the end of the course.

You also have the possibility of going on to further study through Telford or undertaking any one of a range of programmes right up to diploma level.

Arboriculture - x3 Certificates

Telford Certificate in Introductory Arboriculture
Telford Certificate in Intermediate Arboriculture
Telford Certificate in Advanced Arboriculture

Each certificate builds on the one before increasing your skills and levels of professionalism within the arboriculture industry.

As a graduate of each Certificate in Arboriculture you will be able to undertake an increasing variety of arboricultural tasks with safety and confidence and you will increase your understanding and knowledge technical and theoretical aspects of arboriculture.

What will I study?

This course has a strong practical and technical emphasis with theory back-up. All the subjects are completely made up of NZQA Unit Standards and include units on;

Small engine maintenance, Plant pests and diseases, Pruning, Chainsaw use, Arboricultural tree climbing, Sectional tree felling, Knowledge of work around electrical supply lines, Tree evaluation, Tree identification, Plant structures and functions, Site assessment, Tree selection, Law in relation to arboriculture, The planning and managing of complex tree work, Soils and fertilisers, Transplanting and advancer felling techniques.

How long is the course?

The course is primarily designed for those already in the work force, with students progressing from the Introductory Certificate to the Intermediate Certificate and then the Advanced Certificate over a three-year period, one certificate per year (although it is possible to progress faster if desired).

How will I study?

Study is undertaken on-job through participating employers backed up by on (or near site) short courses and a combination of distance and self-directed learning.

What qualifications will I get?

Successful students can gain a certificate a year for three years. Those certificates are;

- The Telford Certificate in Introductory Arboriculture - Level 2

- The Telford Certificate in Intermediate Arboriculture -Level 3

- The Telford Certificate in Advanced Arboriculture - Level 4

With each completed certificate you will gain credits towards the Advanced National Certificate in Horticulture (Arboriculture). This National qualification is made up of six certificates;

The National Certificate in Horticulture (Arboriculture) -level 4 - Ground worker

The National Certificate in Horticulture (Arboriculture) -level 4 - Basic Climber

The National Certificate in Horticulture (Arboriculture) -level 4 - Advanced Climber

The National Certificate in Horticulture (Arboriculture) -level 4 - Transplant worker

The National Certificate in Horticulture (Arboriculture) -level 4 - Utility Worker

The National Certificate in Horticulture (Arboriculture) -level 4 - Consultant Climber

Upon completing all three certificates and the Telford Foundation Certificate in Arboriculture you will gain the Advanced National Certificate in Horticulture (Arboriculture) made up of all six National certificates.

Who can apply?

This course is open to anyone interested in arboriculture as a career. You need to be relatively fit and have the ability to work at heights to the required standard. You must also show those personal and skill attributes likely to lead to successful course completion.

The certificates are taught in order starting from the Introductory to the Intermediate following on to the Advanced. In order to progress to the next certificate students must be successful in the certificate they are enrolled in.

Do I have to complete all 3 Telford Certificates?

No. One of the many beauties of this course is that students can leave the program at the end of each year with a certificate. The programme is effectively divided up into three separate courses.

When should I apply?

Applications will be accepted up until 1 week before the commencement of the course providing there are still vacancies.

Where to from here?

The increased knowledge and practical skills you gain from these courses will provide many opportunities for further employment within an industry where capable employees are highly sought after. Many students who have gained the Telford Certificate in Advanced Arboriculture have then gone on to become self-employed.

You also have the possibility of going on to further study at Telford including the Telford Diploma in Arboriculture.

Telford Diploma in Arboriculture L5

Telford Diploma in Arboriculture is a single-year diploma designed for those wishing to take their knowledge of arboriculture to the next level.

Like all of the Telford arboricultural qualifications the Telford Diploma in Arboriculture has been requested and created by the industry. The Telford Diploma is a theory-based course but still requires a sound knowledge of practical arboriculture. It is designed for those entering into management positions or thinking of going down the self-employed track. It is intended to extend the participant’s knowledge and awareness of trees, together with understanding some of the complex factors concerning their care and management.

The Telford Diploma in Arboriculture course considers a wide range of issues relating to the ecological, environmental, social, historical, political and financial aspects of tree management. The scope of the diploma study programme gives students an insight into many of the systems and processes involved in management. It is both challenging and rewarding.

What will I study?

The Telford Diploma in Arboriculture is neatly divided into four papers: Arboriculture 1 - Tree Management; Arboriculture 2 - Resource Management; Arboriculture 3 - Asset Management; and Arboriculture 4 - Financial Management.

Within those four papers you will study:

Plant Physiology, Tree Mechanics and Dynamics, Contract Management, Human Resource Management, Employment Law, Asset Management Principles, Financial Planning, Business Planning, Job Costing and Data Management – all within an arboricultural context. The four papers consider arboriculture from both the private enterprise and public sector perspectives.

How long is the course?

One year. The course duration requires participants to utilise time management skills. The course workload is demanding. Students must be prepared to commit to all four study sessions, plus regular self-study periods.

What qualifications will I get?

The Telford Diploma in Arboriculture - (Level 5)

Who can apply?

Applicants must hold a Level 4 qualification in Arboriculture or demonstrate an equivalent knowledge and understanding through a minimum of 8 years industry experience. Applicants should have sound arboricultural knowledge, plus the ability to analyse information and develop clear articulate written answers.

When should I apply?

Applications will be accepted up until one week before the commencement of the course providing there are still vacancies.

Where to from here?

The increased knowledge you gain from this course will provide many opportunities for employment within an industry where employees capable of progressing into management positions are highly sought after.

For those who are self-employed or thinking of becoming self-employed the Telford Diploma in Arboriculture is the logical step, linking practical and theoretical arboricultural and business skills together.

As for further study, you also have the possibility of going on to Lincoln or Massey University, or undertaking any one of our range of programmes offered through distance education.

If you are interested in studying any of the above course please contact Horttraining NZ Ltd on 03 456 3506 or email admin@horttraining.co.nz